HOW TO MAKE A CAROUSEL INSTAGRAM POST!
We have all seen those super cool instagram posts that as you slide right it will slide into a beautiful laid out set of photos. If you have not seen these then totally check out my instagram page & you will see an example @dixiejwilson. These Carousel posts are super creative to create and they add an extra flare to your instagram page. Now, there are a few apps you can use to create them, but this blog post is all about creating them in photoshop. One reason I love creating them in photoshop is because I have 100% creative control over the layout of them, with an app it is more like a template.
Don’t get me wrong there is NOTHING wrong with a template, but for someone who likes to have creative control this is honestly my favorite way to do them. I know that not everyone will enjoy creating them in photoshop, so if you are that peep then scroll on down I have linked some carousel apps below. Also, if you just don’t have time to create in photoshop and need something quick and easy one of these apps are perfect, so totally use both; app and/or photoshop. There is seriously no judgement here. But, if you are curious about how to create them on photoshop then let’s get this party started.
Step 1:
First thing first. You will need the desktop version of photoshop. If you do not have photoshop, then I highly suggest you looking at the photography plan bundle in adobe. You will receive both Lightroom and Photoshop for the price of one monthly app.
Ok, let’s open photoshop.
Download the Instagram Slide. Go ahead and download this slide and add it into your photoshop. You will notice that there are blue lines going vertical. Each square is the actual size of an instagram image. (Currently, instagram is only allowing 10 images, so this slide gives you access to create anywhere from 1-10 images) I use these blue lines to judge where the break will be.
Step 2:
Add all the photos you want to use into photoshop. I highly suggest gathering the photos together on your desktop then adding them into photoshop. That way you can see them all together, instead of adding them one by one into photoshop.
Step 3:
Be creative. This is where we are going to add images and create a beautiful layout.
Let’s also talk about some quick keys we can use to help make moving images from their main page to the instagram slide page easier.
If you will go to the image then click
(Command + A) this will add a moving border around the image.
Then
(Command + C) this will copy the image
Then click the instagram slide page
(Command + V) This will paste the image.
Personally I like to drag all the images into the instagram slide page before I start creating.
(Command + T) will give you access to transform the image.
I personally like to fill the slide up around the borders, but if you enjoy being extra creative like leaving a white border or leaving white space I support you 100%.
Step 4:
We are officially done with the design process. Go ahead and
(Command + Shift + S ) and save that file as a jpeg. (This will make sense in a moment.)
You can also save it as a photoshop file as well, but you will need the jpeg to help create the single squares. Saving the photoshop file will give you access to make changes if you need to.
Step 5:
Download the Single Instagram Square. Once you have downloaded this square move it into photoshop. & once you have that in photoshop then add the JPEG Instagram slide.
Step 6:
Now, let’s not let this get confusing so hang tight with me.
You are going to want to be on the Instagram SLIDE page.
Step 7:
In the top life corner of photoshop there is this Dotted Square Tool it is called the “Rectangular Marquee Tool '' Click that.
Then you are going to want to click and drag from the left top corner to the right bottom corner of each individual square ON THE INSTAGRAM SLIDE. I like to hold Shift while I drag so I know for a fact it will be the square. (Praise the Lord for these vertical lines, because they actually are not only used for guidance, but your Rectangular Marquee tool will magnet to the blue lines).
Once, the square is highlighted you will want to…
(Command + C) this will copy that selected square.
Then go to the INSTAGRAM SQUARE PAGE
(Command +V) this will paste the selected square into the instagram square page.
This should automatically fill the square
Then you are going to want to save the squares.
(Command + Shift + S) save the squares as a jpeg. & I highly suggest saving them in number order. That way when you are putting them into instagram you can put them in the right order.
Then you will go back and repeat until all the squares are saved as a single instagram post.
If photoshop is not your thing then here are some apps you can use. Like I said there is simply nothing wrong with an app. I personally just like 100% creative control.